Permitting Update:
On June 14, 2023, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) issued a permit that will enable Colonial to build and operate an onsite water treatment system by allowing for the discharge of treated water into a local stream. Local water treatment will allow full operation of Colonial’s hydraulic control well system. We continue to work with other authorities and partners to secure the final permits and approvals necessary to construct and operate the treatment system.
Colonial appreciates NCDEQ’s thorough permit review and decision, which will enable us to speed up product recovery, limit underground migration, and minimize truck traffic on public roadways. Our focus remains on safely recovering product and remediating the site, and we will continue working closely with environmental agencies and local leaders to ensure our operations meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
Colonial Pipeline Water Treatment Proposal
Colonial Pipeline is seeking to improve containment and remediation efforts at our Huntersville release site through enhanced product recovery and local water treatment. The treatment system’s operation requires a state permit for discharging clean, treated groundwater back to the local watershed. That permit includes strict requirements for testing the discharged groundwater. Treated water will be returned to the local watershed via North Prong Clark Creek.
A Critical Component
The next phase of recovery and remediation of the Huntersville site requires full operation of the hydraulic control well system. This is a critical component in preventing the migration of underground product. The well system and other recovery wells will bring to the surface water that must be treated. Treating the groundwater on site avoids the disruptive and potentially less safe approach of trucking it away for treatment and ensures the water stays in the local watershed.
